Average Salary for Reed College Alumni

Founded in Portland, Ore., Reed College is an institution of higher learning for around 1,000 students. Located in Portland, one of the biggest draws of this private university is the surrounding urban environment. A perfect laboratory for ardent students of the humanities, coffee drinkers and foodies alike. This summary is derived from information given by Reed grads who completed the PayScale salary survey.

Industry

Former Reed students are professionally suited for a wide range of fields including the software development industry, the education industry, and the internet software services industry. Software as a service (SAAS) development is the sector most highly represented among alumni. The internet software services industry is perhaps the least commonly worked industry among Reed grads, with less than five percent of former students experienced in this area. Following graduation, Reed students earn an average of $58K.

Gender

It's worth noting that female graduates earn a median salary of $50K whereas the men's median is about $75K.

Jobs

VPs of Computer Software Engineering win the contest for best-paid Reed alumni, typically making $168K every year, though Software Engineers (approximately $103K) are not far behind. Chemists get the short end of the stick when it comes to salary, where grads report making an average of around $45K in this job.

Locations

Portland keeps the largest number of Reed grads among cities despite the fact that it offers the lowest median compensation ($42K). Alternatively, Seattle is home to some of the highest salaries — median pay is approximately $120K — which is an (obvious) draw for many Reed grads. San Francisco and Boston are popular choices as well.

Degree Major

Among the highest-paid Reed alumni are those with a B.A. in Music — they earn close to $130K per year. A B.A. in Bachelor of Arts (BA) is less advantageous in terms of earnings; alums with this degree are the lowest earners with annual pay of around $42K.

Skills

Many Reed grads have knowledge of Project Management, with roughly an eighth of alumni using this program on the clock. Competency in MySQL translates into above-average pay for Reed College grads — they earn 80 percent more than their fellow graduates. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, and MySQL are among other dominant skills.

Benefits and Perks

Only about one-third of alumni enjoy paid vacation and one-third of alumni receive sick leave. A solid majority of grads plan for retirement by taking advantage of a company-sponsored 401(k) program. Health coverage is awarded to a strong majority of former students, and dental insurance is issued to most respondents as well. Additional benefits handed to Reed College alumni include a casual working environment, free drinks, life insurance, and flexible hours.

Related Schools

University of Puget Sound grads report the most similar salaries to Reed alums, earning $61K on average. Other schools similar to Reed include Lewis & Clark College, Willamette University, and Whitman College.